Seal for rotary driers or coolers



Aug. 1, 1950- J. L. ERISNIIAN SEAL FOR ROTARY DRIERS 0R COOLERS 5Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 1, 1946 INVENTOR .li-alrmem RNEY A1181 1, 1950J. L. ERISMAN 2,517,470

SEAL FOR ROTARY DRIERS 0R COOLERS Filed Feb. 1, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 2lNVENTOR BY i WRNEY 1950 J. L ERISMAN 2,517,470

SEAL FOR ROTARY DRIERS OR COQLERS V Filed Feb. 1, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 3J8 INVENTOR Jbzzifiirmwm kmw ATTORNEY 1950 J. L. ERISMAN 2,517,470

SEAL FOR ROTARY DRIERS 0R COOLERS Filed Feb. 1, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 4:

INVENTOR BY EY A g- 1950 J. L. ERISMAN 2,517,470

SEAL FOR ROTARY DRIERS 0R COOLERS Filed Feb. 1, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 5INVENTOR 'ATT NEY Patented Aug. 1, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFlCEJohn L. Erisman, Oak Park, Ill., assignor to Link Belt Company, acorporation of Illinois Application February 1, 1946, Serial No. 644,753

8 Claims. (01. 28596.1)

This invention relates to new and :useful improvements in seals forrotary dryers or coolers. Dryers or coolers of the type broadly coveredby the Gustav Bojner et a1. Patent No. 1,709,456, issued April 16, 1929,each involves a rotatable, horizontal cell or cylinder which is providedwith an annular series of longitudinal passages at its inner periphery.The hot or cold treatment fluid is delivered to these passages at oneend of the revolvin cell or cylinder by means of a stationarydistributor head or ring. This head or ring is provided with a fluiddelivery duct that spans an area which is approximately equal to thecombined area of only a limited number, for example two to four, of theadjacent open ends of the longitudinal fluid passages and is furtherconstructed so that it closes the open ends of all of the remaininglongitudinal fluid passages. Of course, as the cell or cylinder rotates,the open ends of all of the annular series of longitudinal fluidpassages successively move into and out of register with the fluiddelivery duct of the stationary distributor head or ring with the resultthat the treatment fluid is delivered only to the ends of thelongitudinal fluid passages that are arranged at any given momentbeneath the bed of material being dried or cooled in the centraltreatment chamber of the rotating cell or cylinder. Because thedistributor head or ring is of annular formation in elevation and it isessential that the hot or cold treatment fluid be prevented from leakingto the surrounding atmosphere ei ther at the zone where it is deliveredto the longitudinal fluid passages underlying the bed of material orthroughout the region of the remaining longitudinal fluid passages whichare not registering with the delivery duct for being supplied with thetreatment fluid, sealing means must be provided to close the gaps orspaces left at the joints between the inner and outer peripheries of thestationary distributor head or ring and the associated portions of therotatable cell or cylinder. To be practical and efficient, the sealingmeans must possess the two essential characteristics of being readilyserviced at least insofar as the replacement of wearable parts isconcerned and of being capable of rendering satisfactory service for asubstantial period of time when operating under either high or lowtemperature conditions.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide extremelyefficient sealing means for preventin the escape of hot or coldtreatment fluids through the joints between stationary distributor headsor rings and rotatable cells or cylinders of dryers or coolers,

Still another primary object of the invention is the provision ofsealing means which is so constructed that the parts receiving thegreatest amount of wear easily and quickly may be replaced and theentire sealing means will render long and satisfactory service whenoperating under either high or low temperature conditions.

A further object of the invention is the provision of combined labyrinthand floating ring seals for closing the joints between the stationarydistributor head or ring and the rotatable cell or cylinder of a dryeror cooler.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentduring thecourse of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification andinwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame,

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the feed end of a rotatable cell orcylinder type of dryer or cooler embodying this invention,

Figure 2 isa fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken on line 2--2 ofFig. 1,

1 Figure 3 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken on lines 3-3of Fig. 1,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1, 1

Figure 5 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken on line 66 of Fig. 1,

Figure '7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line '!l of Fig. 1,

Figure 8 is a detail perspective view of a spring clip that is furtherillustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, and i Figures 9 and 10 are perspectiveviews of driv ing and spring lugs, respectively, which are furtherillustrated in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5. i

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustrationis shown thepreferred embodiment of this invention, and first particularly referringto Fig. l, the reference character I I designates in its entirety thebase frame of a rotary dryer or cooler embodying this invention. Thisbase portion carries suitable supporting rolls l2, by means of bearingblocks l3, for engaging the annular trucks I4 secured to the peripheryof a rotatable dryer or cooler cell or cylinder. The cell or cylinder isillustrated inthis figure as including an end feed plate l5, having acentral feed opening 16, which is fastened to the cell or cylinder torotate therewith. yAlthough not illustrated in this Fig. 1, therotatable cell or cylinder is provided with an an 22 of the attachmentplates 19 to accommodate this adjustment of the distributor head or ring[8 relative to the adjacent end of the rotatable dryer or cooler cell orcylinder.

By referring to Figs, 2 and 3, it will be seen that the rotatable cellor cylinder is provided with an exterior, cylindrical wall portion'23that is substantially coaxiallyarranged With reference to :anrouterperipheral wall portion 12!; of :the. stationary distributor -theadorring .58. Y'These two figuresalso illustrate the rotatable cell orcylinder of thezdryerror cooler as including an annular wallportion .25that is :concentric with :the exteriorwall portion 23 .and .islocatedsubstantially in angularralignment with :the inner periphery ofthe annular series of longitudinalfiuid passages. To further illustratethe location of this annular inner wall portion 25, it will be notedthat thegperipheryof:theend plate liilof the dryer or cooler cell orcylinder is attached .tothis wall portion 25. These two figures alsodisclose the stationary distributor .heador ring it aszbeing providedwith an annular wall portion :26 that is concentric .withiitsexteriorwall portion 24 and is arrangedsubstantially .coaxially oithecell or cylinder .Wall ,portion 25.

Figs. 2 and 3 are taken on the section lines illustrated in .Fig. l and,for that reason, are 10- cated at portions of the distributor head .orring which close the adjacentzendslz-lof longitudinal fluidzpassages.For-ithat reason, th distributor head or ring [8 is provided witha plate.28 that lies between the annular wall portions 24 and .26,

By an inspection ,Of FigsMZand 3, it-will be seen that the hot or .coldtreatment fluid would ,be permitted to escape to the surroundingatmosphere if suitable sealinglmeans were not provided for closing thegaps or openings formed by the joints between-substantially axiallyaligned wall portions 23 and 24 and between the substantially axiallyaligned wall;p0rtions;25 and 26. In other words, leakage can occur bothat the inner -pe-, riphery andthe outenperiphery of the distributorhead'or ring 18 wheredt-cooperates with :opposed portions of therotatable dryer cell or cylinder. For that reason, two annular sealstructuresmust be provided forclosing these two joints. Because thesetwo annular seal structures are identical in many respects, thedescriptions-of thetwo structures will be combined or consolidatedasmuch as possible.

Each one of the seal structures includes .a labyrinth type-of sealland afloating .ring type of seal Which-cooperates with the labyrinth sealbyclosing the gap-or opening left by the =latter seal. The labyrinth sealportion of .each one of the twoiseal structures includes a labyrinthseal .ring 29 thatis illustrated -.in the several figures as beingwelded :to :a walliportion of the distributor head'or ring 48. .It. isto'be understood, however,

that this :labyrinth :seal ring can just as readily be welded to a wallportionof the rotatable cell or cylinder, This .labyrinthseal .ring is;providedwith an annular radially extending ..ace ,3llthat rings 38.

is machined to provide a true, smooth surface. The labyrinth seal alsoincludes a labyrinth seal band 3| that is secured to the remainder ofthe two substantially coaxial Wall portions. This labyrinth seal band 3|is illustrated as being attached to the Wall portion of the rotatablecell or cylinder because the labyrinth seal ring 29 is illustratedrasbeing attached to the .wall portion of the stationarydistributor head orring. However, these labyrinth seal members may be reversed so that thelabyrinth seal band would be attached to the wall portion of thestationary distributor head or ring Ill.

The labyrinth seal band 3| is arranged so as to overlap the gap or spaceformed by the joint between the coaxial wall portions of the distributorhead or ring it and the cell or cylinder of the dryer 'or cooler. Theconcentrically arranged laybrinth seal band is of: greater internaldiameter than .eitherof the .wall portions :with which it is associated.This..-greater diameter is provided for the purpose of allowing for sommisalignment of the associated wall portions. The labyrinth seal .bandmay be of proper angular formation in radial section to allow for the'mountingof one circumferential edge portion on one .of the coaxiallyaligned wall .portions while leaving theremainder of the sealing bandspaced from the otherv wall portion, :However, it is preferable to 1employan annular filler member 32 .in combination with a trulycylindrical seal band 3|. The filler member 32 is welded to itsassociated wall portion and the labyrinth seal band 3| is suitablywelded to its filler -member 32. These labyrinth .1: seal rings andbands wand-3|, respectively, are

provided for both the .innerand the-outer joints between the stationarydistributor head or ring i8 and the .rotatable'celllor cylinder. Forthat reason, the same reference characters will be employed for thelabyrinth seal elements of both joints. It will be noted thatthe.;labyrinth seal bands and the labyrinth seal'rings .form a tortuouspath for retarding leakage of treatment fluid .through either joint. Thegaps vor openings leitby :the labyrinthseals, therefore, must be closed.by;.additional :sealing means. This :additional sealing means, whichcan be broadly describedgas floating ring sealing means, now will be:specifically disclosed.

Concentrically associated .Withthe exterior surface of=the labyrinthsealband 3.! associated with the joint iormed by the wall portions 2-3 and2.4, and concentrically associated with the inner surface of thelabyrinth :seal :band 13E, associated :.with the .joint between the wallportions 25 and .26, .are the two .pairs of (floating rings 33,34,.35iand .36, .The floatingrings33 and 35 each has suitably welded toits inner face the annular keeper band 3-1. By particularly inspectingFigs. :2, 3,16;and 7,, it will :be seen that the spaced floating ringsx33.34 :or :35-36, theirassociated keeper bands .31, and theirassociated labyrinth seal bands 'form annular .grooves or spaces forreceiving .and compressing packing Each one of these packing rings .38is to be tightly compressed against its associated exterior :or interiorsurface of a labyrinth seal band .3! to prevent leakage of treatmentfluid between these ring and band members 38 and .3l respectively. Anysuitable fiexibler packing material can be employed for forming therings ,38.

For the purpose of sealing between the :machined inner .faces oilthelabyrinth seal rings 29 and their opposed floating rings 83 and .35,

sealingrings 39 are provided. These rings may be made of any suitablematerial, suclrasspecial bronze, copper, wood, or thelike. The sealingrings 39 are secured to the floating rings 33 and 35 by a suitablenumber of bolts 40. These bolts pass through openings formed. in therings 33 and 35 and are threaded into openings formed in the sealingrings 39. Because of the relative angular movement that will take placebetween the labyrinth seal rings 29 and the sealing rings 39 that bearagainst the machined faces 30 of the rings 29, the sealing rings 39 and29 will be subject to the only wear that will occur in these sealingstructures. For that reason, the sealing rings 39 can be readilyreplaced by merely removing their retaining bolts 46. i

It will be appreciated that the labyrinth seal rings 29 and the specialbronze, copper or wood sealing rings 39 just as readily could beconnected by the bolts 43. If that were the case, the sealing rings 39would have to bear against and partake of relative angular movement withrespect to the floating rings 33 and 35.

For the purpose of drivingly attaching the two pairs of floating rings33-34 and 35--36 to their associated cell or cylinder wall portions 23and 25, a suitable number of driving pins 4| are secured by Welding inopenings provided to receive the same in the floating rings 33 and 35.These driving pins 4| also pass through aligned openings formed in thefloating rings 34 and 36 and are received in the notches 42 of thedriving lugs 43 that are attached by welding to the wall portions 23 and25. These driving pins and lugs 4| and 43, therefore, cause the floatingrings 33 to 36 inclusiveto rotatewith the dryer or cooler cell orcylinder. Of course, if the labyrinth seal rings 29 and bands 3| werereversed with respect to their associated wall portions, so that thelabyrinth seal rings would be carried by the wall portions of therotatable cell or cylinder, the driving lugs 43 would be attached to thestationary wall portions and 26 of the distributor head or ring l8 andtheir associated driving pins 4| would hold the floating rings 33 to 36and the sealing rings 39 against rotation, or stationary with thedistributor head or ring l8. It is necessary to so apply spring pressurethat the sealing rings 39 will be forced against the labyrinth sealrings 29, and so that the floating rings 34 and 36 will be forced towardtheir associated floating rings 33 and 35, respectively, to compress thetwo packing rings 38 against their associated labyrinth seal bands 3|.Because slightly different spring pressure applying mechanisms areemployed for the outer and inner sealing structures, these springmechanisms will be described separately.

Figs. 3, 4 and 8 best illustrate the spring structures provided for theouter seals. Each one of these outer spring structures includes a springend seating pin 44 that is welded in placein an opening formed in thefloating ring 34. The compression spring 45 has one of its ends seatedon the associated pin 44. The remaining end of each compression spring45 is seated on a threaded adjusting stud 46. Each stud has pinned tothe intermediate portion of the same a nut 41 that bears against theadjacent end of its compression spring 45. An angle-iron ring 48 iswelded to the exterior of the wall portion 23. This angle-iron ring isprovided with notches 49 at suitable intervals to freely accommodate theadjusting studs 46 and their fixed nuts 41. For the purpose of spanningeach one of these notches 49, a sprint,

clip50 is provided. These spring clips are welded to the inner face ofthe angle-iron ring 48 with fillers 5| interposed. Each one of thesespring clips 50 is provided with an internal, threaded opening 52 forconnection with its associated spring adjusting stud 46. Consequently,by rotating the studs 46 in the proper direction, they will be adjustedaxially with respect to their spring clips 50 for moving the springadjustment nuts 41 to further compress the springs 45. A. look nut 52 isthreaded on each spring stud 46 and functions to retain the stud in anydesired adjusted position.

Figs. 3 and 5 disclose the spring devices for the inner floating ringseal structure. Each one of these spring devices includes a springseating pin 54 that is welded in a receiving opening formed in the cellor cylinder feed plate |5-. Each one of these pins seats the end of acompression spring 55. The remaining end portion of each spring 55 isseated on an associated end of a spring adjusting stud 56. A springabutment nut 51 is pinned to each one of the studs 56. A spring lug 58is provided for each spring stud 56. and is welded to one face of thefloating ring 36. Each one of these spring lugs is provided with aninternally threaded opening 59 for threaded connection with itsassociated spring stud. 56. A locking nut 60 cooperates with thethreaded lu 58 and the threaded stud 56 for locking the stud in anydesired adjusted position. By rotating the stud relative to its lug, thecompression spring 55 may be adjusted. M

It is to be understood that the form of this invention herewith shownand described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, andthat various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the subj oined claims.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the type described, the combination with a rotary cellor cylinder having an annular wall portion and a stationary head havingan annular wall portion arranged substantially coaxially of the firstWall portion to provide a radially directed gap therebetween, of meansfor sealing the gap between said wall portions, comprising meansdirectly mounted on and extending circumferentially of substantiallyaxially alined annular surfaces of said wall portions, re-v spectively,forming a labyrinth seal for said radially directed gap, andmeansforming afloating contact seal for closing the outer portion of theopening of said labyrinth seal.

2. In a device of the type described, the combination with a rotary cellor cylinder having an annular wall portion and a stationary head hav-'ing an annular wall portion arranged substantially coaxially of thefirst wall portion to form a radially directed gap therebetween, ofmeans for sealing the radial gap between said wall portions, comprisinga labyrinth seal band mounted on and extending oircumierentially of onesurface of one of said wall portions and telescopically associated withthe corresponding surface of the other annular wall portion, a labyrinthseal ring carried by said corresponding surface of said other annularwall portion normal to said labyrinth seal band and in axially spacedrelation to the free edge of the latter, and means forming a floatingseal for closing the open spacebetween said labyrinth seal band andring. l

3. In a device of the type described, the combination with a rotary cellor cylinder having an annular wall portion. and a stationary head havingan annular wall portion arranged substantially coaxially of the firstwall portion to form a radially directed gap therebetween, of means forsealing the radial gap between said wall portions, comprisin meansdirectly mounted on and extending c'n'ciunferentially of substantiallyaxially alined annular surfaces of said annular wall portions,respectively, forming a labyrinth seal for said radially directed gap,means forming a floating seal for closing the outer portion of theopening of said labyrinth seal, said floating seal means comprising a pciting ring bearing against the means of the labyrinth seal thatiscarried by thev surface of one of said an;

nular wall portions, a sealing ring bearin against themeans of thelabyrinth seal that is carried by the corresponding surface. of theother of said annular wall portions, and means. for carrying saidpacking and sealing rings.

4-. In a device of the type described, the combination with a rotarycell or cylinder having an annular wall portion and a stationary headhavan annular wall portion arranged substantially coaxially of the firstwall portion to form a radially directed gap therebetween, of means forsealing the radial gap between said well portions, comprising meansdirectly mounted on and extending circumferentially of substantiallyairially al-ined annular surfaces or said annular wall portions,respectively, forming a labyrinth seal for said radially directed gap,means forming a floating seal for closing the outer portion of theopening or said labyrinthseal, said floating seal means comprising, apacking ring bearing against the means of the labyrinth seal that iscarried by the surface of one of said annular wall portions, a sealingring bearing against the means of. the labyrinth seal that is carried bythe corresponding surface of the other of said annular wall portions,means for carrying said packing and sealing rings,v means for attachingsaid ring carrying means to one of said annular wall portions, and meansfor applying spring pressure against the ring carrying means in thedirection to f ce the sealing ring tightly against its assoelatedlabyrinth seal means.

5. In a device of the type described, the combination with a rotary cellor cylinder having an annular wall portion and a stationary head havingan annular wall portion arranged substantially coaxialiy of the firstwall portion to form a radially directed gap therebetween, of means forsealing the radial gap between said wall portions, comprising alabyrinth seal band mounted on and extending circumferentially of onesurface of one. of said annular wall portions and telescopicallyassociated with the corresponding surface of the other annular wallportion, a labyrinth seal ring carried by the surfaces of said otherannular wall portion normal to said labyrinth seal band and in axiallyspaced relation to the free edge of the latter, means forming a floatingseal for closing the open space between said labyrinth seal band andring, said floating seal means comprising a packing ring bearing againstthe periphery of the labyrinth seal band, a sealing ring bearing againstthe labyrinth seal ring, and means for carrying said packing and sealingrings.

6. In a device of the type described, the combination with a rotary cellor cylinder having an annular wall portion and a stationary head havingan annular wall portion arranged substantially coaxially of the firstwall portion to form a radially directed gap, therebetween, of means forsealing the radial gap between said wall pore tions, comp-rising alabyrinth seal band mounted on and extending circumferentially of onesurface of one of said annular wall portions and telescopicallyassociated with the corresponding surface of the other annular wallportion, a labyrinth seal ring carried by the surface of said otherannular wall portion normal to said labyrinth seal band and in axiallyspaced relation to the free edge of the latter, means forming a floatingseal for closing the open space between said labyrinth seal band andring, said floating seal means comprising a packing ring bearing againstthe periphery of the labyrinth seal band, asealing ring bearing againstthe labyrinth seal ring, means for carrying said packing and sealingrings, means for attaching, said ring carrying means to the annular Wallportion carrying the labyrinth seal band, and means for applying springpressure against the ring carrying means in the direction to force thesealing ring tightly against the labyrinth seal ring.

7. In a device of the type described, the combination with a rotary cellor cylinder having an annular wall portion and a stationary head havingan annular wall portion arranged substantially coaxially of the firstwall portion, of means for sealing the joint between said wall portions,comprising a labyrinth seal band carried by one of said wall portionsand telescopically receiving the substantially coaxially associatedother wall portion, a labyrinth seal ring carried by said other wallportion normal to said labyrinth seal band and in spaced relation to thefree edge of the latter, a pair of spaced floating rings sur: roundingsaid labyrinth seal band, a keeper band carried by one of the floatingrings in the space between it and the other floating ring, a packingring positioned in the space formed by the pair of floating rings andthe labyrinth seal and keeper bands, a sealing ring carried by one ofthe floating rings for bearing against the adjacent face of thelabyrinth seal ring, spring means for applying force against saidfloating rings to compress the packing ring against the labyrinth sealband and for pressing the sealing ring against the labyrinth seal ring,and means for attaching the floating rings to the Wall portion carryingthe labyrinth seal band.

8. In a device of the type described, the combination with a rotary cellor cylinder having an annular Wall portion and a stationary head havingan annular wall portion arranged substantially coaxially of the firstwall portion, of means for sealing the joint between said wall portions,comprising a labyrinth seal band carried by one of said wall'portionsand telescopically receiving the substantially coaxially associatedother wall portion, a labyrinth seal ring carried by said other wallportion normal to said labyrinth seal band and in spaced relation to thefree edge of the latter, a pair of spaced floating rings sur roundingsaid labyrinth seal band, a keeper band carried by one of the floatingrings in the space between it and the other floating ring, a packingring positioned in the spaced formed by the pair of floating. rings andthe labyrinth seal and keeper bands, asealing ring carried by one of thefloating rings for bearing against the adjacent face of the labyrinthseal ring, a plurality of pins attached atone end to the floating ringcarrying the sealing ring and projecting through aligned openings formedin the otherfloating ring, a lug for engaging the free end of each pinattached to the wall portion carrying the lab- 10 yrinth seal band. andspring means for applying UNITED STATES PAIENTS force against thefloating ring having the'pin re- Number m Date ceiving openings for compessin he p ck pg ring 1,263,415 Hornsey Am 23 1918 against the labyrinthseal band and for pressing 1,905,613 Bodart Apr 1933 the sealing ringagainst the labyrinth seaLring. 5 2362 436 stratford 1944 JOHN L.ERISMAN.

FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country D te The following references are ofrecord in the 490,001 Germany Of 1930 file of this patent: 10 348,374Great Britain of 1931

